Game of Thrones Adds Gwendoline Christie in Season 2

Christie, who appeared in The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, will play Brienne, Maid of Tarth to the late king's brother, Renly (Gethin Anthony). Though she's not physically attractive — she's described as a large and piggish-looking woman — she is a great fighter and is very loyal to Renly.

"This was another one of those cases where there was hardly any debate," Martin said on the casting. "The day the first batch of auditions went up for the role, we looked at a dozen actresses who were reading for Brienne and one actress who WAS Brienne."

Christie joins Tudorsalum Natalie Dormer, who just signed on to play Margaery Tyrell, who is pledged to marry Renly.